It was two years ago Thursday that Terrell Thomas limped out of the end zone with a torn ACL during a preseason game against the Bears at MetLife Stadium. Since then he's had two reconstructions of the knee, bringing his career total to three, and missed two full seasons of football.

On Saturday, he will return to the same field he left 24 months earlier.

Tom Coughlin said Thomas has been cleared to play in the preseason game against the Jets. He'll likely have a role as a nickelback in sub packages, as he has for most of training camp. On Wednesday he had his best practice, making an interception early on an underneath route.

"He looked good [Tuesday] moving around out there and really moved well today also,'' Coughlin said.

Antrel Rolle has amended his theory on protective footwear. A week after shedding the shell he wore to help his sprained ankle heal and declaring that "boots are for wimps,'' the Giants safety said he is not giving wide receiver Victor Cruz a hard time about having to wear one on his injured foot.

"No, man,'' Rolle said. "I want him to be in that boot. We have to make sure we take care of Victor. I think we all know what he means to this team. If he has to walk around in a boot for a month, so be it.''

Rolle is ahead of schedule in his rehab and seems close to returning to practice.

Giant steps

Wednesday marked the end of camp. The Giants have two preseason games and three practices left until they begin preparing to face Dallas in Week 1 . . . CB Jayron Hosley and LB Spencer Paysinger had interceptions. WRs Kevin Hardy and Marcus Harris made nice catches.

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